Peoria Walk News...

The Central Illinois - Peoria Walk has many great events going on and an exciting walker incentive. Please read below for all the latest Peoria Walk news!

Walker Incentive - Win a Peoria Chiefs Family Package!

Have the most funds raised by FRIDAY, AUGUST 7TH AT 5PM AND WIN A PEORIA CHIEFS FAMILY PACKAGE. 4 tickets for this year's season, 4 hats and 2 t-shirts. A $100 value!

JDRF will contact the winning team that evening. Go get ‘em and cheer on the Chiefs!! Special thanks to the Central Illinois Corporate Chair, Rocky Vonachen!

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Upcoming Peoria Events

PDC Swim Party - SPLASHDOWN
Wednesday, August 5th from 7-9pm
Call 888-436-2278 for reservations by July 29th.

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CULVER'S JDRF NIGHT
When: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Where: East Peoria Culver's

901 W. Camp St.
Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

On Wednesday, August 19 between 4 -8pm, Culver's in East Peoria will donate 10% of all earnings to support the JDRF. A tasty way to raise additional funds for research!

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Golf Outing to Benefit JDRF

Friday, September 11, 2009
Pine Lakes Golf Club
25130 Schuck Rd
Washington, IL 61571

12:30pm Shot Gun Start, (11:30am check-in; please arrive by noon)
Dinner & silent auction immediately following.
$85/golfer or $300/foursome
(includes green fees, cart, dinner, and a chance to win prizes)
****$30/person (dinner only)****

Questions? Call Jennifer at 309-243-2131 or Amanda 309-243-2989.

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Central Illinois family teams interested in creating their own Walk shirts can connect with fellow Walk Team Captain, Christi Monroe, on ideas at Christi.monroe@comcast.net or 309-925-3112.

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The Peoria Walk will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2009. Register today at www.walk.jdrf.org.

Sneaker Sales

JDRF Illinois is so grateful for the support of our local sneaker sales partners: Berkot's Super Foods, Omaha Steaks and Waxberg Walk Shoppe. Thank you so much for your continued support of JDRF!

JDRF is also grateful for our National Sneaker Sales Partners:

Advance Auto Parts will deliver a JDRF campaign to remember this year with a goal of raising $3 million for JDRF. Advance will sell JDRF sneakers in over 3,400 stores nationwide from August 27 through October 3, 2009. Be sure to stop by an Advance Auto Parts store and thank them for their incredible support!

Gordman's launched a sneaker sales and fundraising program in 2008 that raised over $100,000 for JDRF! We are thrilled that they will continue their partnership with JDRF in 2009! Starting on Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 23rd, Gordmans will be selling sneakers in all of their 65 locations in 16 states. Gordmans prides themselves on delighting their guests with big savings on name brands in fun, easy-to-shop stores. For more information on the company and store locations visit http://www.gordmans.com/.

Marshalls is an organization that is committed to giving back to its communities and has committed to doing so with their pledge to JDRF. Over the past 16 years, the Marshalls sneaker sales campaign has raised more than $13.8 million, raising nearly $1.3 million in 2008 alone. Please visit a Marshalls store near you between August 23rd and September 26th and help them reach their goal of $1.5 million by purchasing a JDRF Sneaker and thanking Marshalls for their continued and tremendous support of JDRF’s efforts to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

The Fresh Market will sell green JDRF sneakers in all 90 store locations from August 28 through September 13, 2009. The Fresh Market’s signature Sidewalk Sale event will take place from September 11 through September 13 in all Fresh Market stores. Illinois stores are located in Geneva, Kildeer & Wilmette. The Fresh Market will sell root beer floats, gourmet hot dogs, and other tasty treats from 11:00 AM through 6:00 PM each day of the weekend with proceeds benefitting JDRF! Support JDRF & The Fresh Market's fundraising efforts by visiting your local store during their campaign.

Walgreens continues to be a wonderful partner to JDRF and have generated $17 million dollars over the past two decades! Walgreens will sell a $1 coupon booklet featuring the JDRF sneaker logo in over 7,000 Walgreens outlets across the country from November 1st to November 30th. Be sure to stop in your local Walgreens to buy the coupon booklet and thank them for their generous support of JDRF!

Is your company interested in selling sneakers to support JDRF? Selling sneakers for JDRF is easy, efficient and no cost to you. Every sneaker sold brings us closer to a cure! Please contact the JDRF office at 312.670.0313 and ask for your local Walk Manager to learn more.

JDRF Day at the Windy City Thunderbolts

Join us for JDRF Day at the Windy City Thunderbolts! Connect with JDRF representatives and other JDRF family teams and cheer on the Thunderbolts together!

What: JDRF DAY AT THE THUNDERBOLTS

When: Friday, July 24th 2009 at 7:05 p.m.
Thunderbolts v. River City Rascals

Where: Standard Bank Stadium
14011 S. Kenton Ave., Crestwood, IL 60445

How: Call Donna at 312-447-7954 to order your tickets, $10 per ticket!

See below flier for additional details.

Ford's Family Team Sponsorship

Ford's Operation Goodwill Campaign

Ford Motor Company’s Operation Goodwill Campaign helped raise over $100,000 for the 2008 JDRF Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes!

Ford continues their role as a JDRF Global Walk Partner and as a JDRF Illinois Chapter Sponsor. We appreciate their continued dedication to our mission!

How does this partnership affect JDRF Walk families? As a presenting sponsor for the Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, Ford dealerships have the unique opportunity to partner with a Walk Family Team. Our goal for this partnership is to establish a connection between Ford and the community while increasing Family Team success.

The inaugural year of the Ford Family Team Sponsorship raised $25,000 through nine Ford Dealerships sponsoring 10 Family Teams. This campaign drove their local participation to new heights and gave JDRF Family Teams an opportunity for greater success! Success means more funding for diabetes research.

What to expect from a Ford dealership as a partner:

• 13 Ford dealerships will select one winning Family Team each (winning teams announced in August).

• Dealerships have the option of hosting Family Team fundraising events at their dealership.

• Ford dealerships will match the money raised by your Family Team - up to $2,500!

What is expected of selected Family Teams:

• Interested JDRF Family Teams must apply for a dealership sponsor.

• If selected, families are responsible for raising money for the Walk through personal campaign letters sent to family, friends, and community members asking for support and highlighting the unique Ford Dealership partnership.

• Family teams may display dealership name on t-shirts, post-walk wrap-up letters, etc.

• If chosen, Family Teams should thank the dealership partner for their commitment to a cure and support of your team.

If your team is interested in this amazing opportunity, please complete the below application and return it to the JDRF Illinois office by Friday, July 31, 2009. We look forward to hearing from you! Please contact Katy Orender, JDRF Lakefront Walk Manager, for more information at 312.423.7196.